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"I'm not so concerned with bidding
mistakes though, because I know that with enough
experience, certain types of auctions will start to
become automatic. But it's really frustrating to get a
play problem wrong. I feel I should always be able to
work it out."
- Bill
Gates
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There were many other
pioneers in the Improvers of the game of Bridge.
However, we should mention one more person. His name is
Mr. John S. Bennett. In Kansas City, Kansas, in the year
1931, Mr. Bennett was playing with his wife as his
partner against Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann. The couple had
had some serious communication problems that day and
they were uttering some rude remarks in public about the
bidding and playing abilities of each other in
derogatory words. Then came the fateful hand when Mr.
Bennett bid a Spade, the Left Hand Opponent overcalled
with Two Diamonds, and Mrs. Bennett raised to Four
Spades. Mr. Bennett did not fulfill the Contract, and
Mrs. Bennett could not hold her tongue. She became so
enraged that she seemed hysterical. Mr. Bennett reached
across the table, slapped her several times, as
witnesses reported. Mrs. Bennett went into her mother's
bedroom, retrieved the family automatic weapon, returned
to the game room, and pointed the weapon at her husband.
Mr. Bennett raced toward the bathroom and slammed the
door behind him. But Mrs. Bennett fired two shots which
went through the wooden door, and killed Mr. Bennett.
It seems that Mr. Bennett could have made the
Contract of 4 Spades after all, according to Mr. Ely
Culbertson, who later analyzed the cards.
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